Advanced Placement United States History is designed to enable students to develop analytical skills and acquire a thorough knowledge of U.S. History. The approach to this course includes, but is not limited to, the following elements: development of substantial knowledge of social cultural, political, economic and military events relevant to the history of the United States; development of assessment and interpretive skills; development of map skill; and the development of communicative skills through the writing of coherent, analytical essays.
Required Course Materials
Give Me Liberty: An American History by Eric Foner ISBN:978-0-393-93430-4 Voices of Freedom: A Document History The Publisher People’s Education offers these three as a package for $125 but you may purchase separately through such sites as Amazon. A People's History of the United States, Abridged Teaching Edition, Updated Edition (any edition will do)
Any AP US Prep book, although Kaplan is highly recommended
Procedures and Expectations
Academic Integrity
Cheating and plagiarism in any form regardless of intent will not be tolerated. Any
students caught cheating will automatically receive a “0” on the assignment.
Reading
This is a college level course and therefore a great amount of scholarly reading is expected. Almost all of the reading for this class will be completed outside of the classroom. The lecture notes in class are meant as a supplement, NOT A SUBSTITUTE for reading the text. It is very important that you keep up with the reading as well as it is easy to fall behind.
Participation, Attendance and Punctuality
Students’ active and meaningful participation is the single most important element to
your learning. If you have an unexcused absence, you will not be able to turn in work due that day, at a later time. If you have an excused absence, you will have two days, for each day excused from my class, to turn in the work. It is your responsibility to contact me in reference to make-up work and tests.
Late Work
No late work will be accepted after 1 week has passed since the due date. The maximum amount of credit available on work turned in late is 50%.
Electronic Submission I strongly encourage students to turn in homework electronically to cut down on paper costs. When sending an email make sure there is record in your sent box showing the time and date sent.
Evaluations
Process (45% of semester grade)
Daily Classwork
Writing – Prewriting, free response questions (FRQ) and document based questions (DBQ)
Homework
You will be given your homework assignments the last day I see you for the week (usually Friday). These assignments will be due on the following Wednesday. If class does not meet on Wednesday the assignment will be due the next time you are in class. You will have until midnight the day an assignment is due to turn it in.
Product (55% of semester grade) Mini Quizzes - Given over various notes and reading selections.
Testing - Students will have a test over each unit consisting of both multiple choice questions, identification and writing prompts.
Projects – both individual and group assignments
Grades
Grades are determined by a simple points system based on points earned against points
available. There is NO extra credit available in AP Human Geo, so do not fail to turn
in assignments. A biweekly general grade report will be posted on the door.
Semester Grades will be averaged as follows: 1st 9 weeks (45%) + 2nd 9 weeks (45%) + Semester Exam (10%) = Total Semester Grade
2012-2013
Jennifer_Castillo@dpsk12.org
Course Description and Goal
Advanced Placement United States History is designed to enable students to develop
analytical skills and acquire a thorough knowledge of U.S. History. The approach to this
course includes, but is not limited to, the following elements: development of substantial
knowledge of social cultural, political, economic and military events relevant to the
history of the United States; development of assessment and interpretive skills;
development of map skill; and the development of communicative skills through the
writing of coherent, analytical essays.
Required Course Materials
Give Me Liberty: An American History by Eric Foner ISBN:978-0-393-93430-4
Voices of Freedom: A Document History
The Publisher People’s Education offers these three as a package for $125 but you may purchase separately through such sites as Amazon.
A People's History of the United States, Abridged Teaching Edition, Updated Edition (any edition will do)
Any AP US Prep book, although Kaplan is highly recommended
Procedures and Expectations
Academic Integrity
Cheating and plagiarism in any form regardless of intent will not be tolerated. Any
students caught cheating will automatically receive a “0” on the assignment.
Reading
This is a college level course and therefore a great amount of scholarly reading is expected. Almost all of the reading for this class will be completed outside of the classroom. The lecture notes in class are meant as a supplement, NOT A SUBSTITUTE for reading the text. It is very important that you keep up with the reading as well as it is easy to fall behind.
Participation, Attendance and Punctuality
Students’ active and meaningful participation is the single most important element to
your learning. If you have an unexcused absence, you will not be able to turn in work due that day, at a later time. If you have an excused absence, you will have two days, for each day excused from my class, to turn in the work. It is your responsibility to contact me in reference to make-up work and tests.
Late Work
No late work will be accepted after 1 week has passed since the due date. The maximum amount of credit available on work turned in late is 50%.
Electronic Submission
I strongly encourage students to turn in homework electronically to cut down on paper costs. When sending an email make sure there is record in your sent box showing the time and date sent.
Evaluations
Process (45% of semester grade)
Daily Classwork
Writing – Prewriting, free response questions (FRQ) and document based questions (DBQ)
Homework
You will be given your homework assignments the last day I see you for the week (usually Friday). These assignments will be due on the following Wednesday. If class does not meet on Wednesday the assignment will be due the next time you are in class. You will have until midnight the day an assignment is due to turn it in.
Product (55% of semester grade)
Mini Quizzes - Given over various notes and reading selections.
Testing - Students will have a test over each unit consisting of both multiple choice questions, identification and writing prompts.
Projects – both individual and group assignments
Grades
Grades are determined by a simple points system based on points earned against points
available. There is NO extra credit available in AP Human Geo, so do not fail to turn
in assignments. A biweekly general grade report will be posted on the door.
Semester Grades will be averaged as follows:
1st 9 weeks (45%) + 2nd 9 weeks (45%) + Semester Exam (10%) = Total Semester Grade
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